After their adventure on the alien world of Sissakh the previous year, Joshua and Suli are back into the normal routine of life on the space station orbiting the planet Epsilon Erdiani d, commonly known as New Mars. Scientists have discovered Veloxium, a substance which allows instantaneous communication across interstellar distances. Veloxium is extremely rare, and missions are being sent out to search for sources of this precious material. The lives of the two teenagers are thrown off course again when they stumble onto a deserted deck of New Mars Station, and receive a warning that Veloxium mining operations in a distant star system could threaten the very existence of mankind. In order to save a planet, Joshua, Suli and Obsidian the cat embark on an enterprise which takes them into the far reaches of space, where they must work against the odds to prevent a mysterious darkness from devouring the Galaxy